When it comes to stores, I'm rather neutral opinion-wise. I mean, some can be trashy or low-class or cheap and others snotty-nosed and expensive, but at the end of the day I just shrug my shoulders and move on. I don't really notice the atmosphere unless it's a bookstore.
Well, I just came back from tagging along with some people who went to a T. J. Maxx. It's the first time I've been in one although I wasn't surprised--I've seen many similar stores that sold similar items before. But there was something not right about it. Something that made my skin crawl.
People have different musical tastes than I do and I totally respect that. If in lab, one of the other graduate students is playing Dixie Chicks, the technician is playing some angsty death metal, and one of the post-docs is playing elevator music, I'm fine with that. If the bus driver likes bubblegum pop, I can stand that too until I get to my destination.
But this store was playing David Hasselhoff on the PA system.